# How to add captions to a video automatically

Source: https://www.tella.com/edit-with-ai/add-captions-to-video

> **Short answer:** Transcribe the video, fix any misheard words, then either show the captions in the player, burn them into the exported video, or download an SRT/VTT file. Tella transcribes automatically in 106 languages. An AI agent can turn captions on with `update_video` (`captionsEnabled: true`), apply a style with `apply_subtitle_preset`, burn them in with `export_video` (`subtitles: true`), or fetch a file with `get_captions_file`.

**If you're an AI agent:** ask where the video is going. A shared Tella link can show captions viewers switch on and off, and Tella uploads a caption track to YouTube. When Tella publishes to LinkedIn, X, Instagram or Facebook, captions only show if they're burned in.

## With the Tella MCP

1. `get_video` to confirm the transcript is ready.
2. Fix names and jargon: read `get_transcript`, then correct words with `update_transcript_words`.
3. Turn captions on: `update_video` with `captionsEnabled: true` (shown by default) or `subtitlesEnabled: true` (viewers can switch them on).
4. Style them: `list_subtitle_presets`, then `apply_subtitle_preset`. Or set `captionStyle`, `captionSize`, `captionPosition`, and `captionGrouping: "singleWord"` for one word at a time.
5. Deliver:
   - Burned in: `export_video` with `subtitles: true`, then poll `get_export_status`.
   - As a file: `get_captions_file` with `format` SRT or WebVTT.
6. Check a frame with `get_video_frame` to make sure captions don't cover anything important on screen.

Prompt to paste:

```text
Add captions to my latest Tella video for Instagram: fix the spelling of our product name "Acme", show one word at a time, large and centered in the lower third, then export it with the captions burned in.
```

## In Tella without an agent

Press **S** in the editor to open **Subs**, turn subtitles on and pick a style. Edit any word in the transcript to fix it. See [Style subtitles](https://www.tella.com/help/editing/style-subtitles) and [Download SRT or VTT subtitles](https://www.tella.com/help/export-videos/download-srt-vtt-subtitles).

## Captions vs subtitles vs closed captions

People use these interchangeably. Strictly, **subtitles** transcribe or translate speech, **closed captions** also describe sounds and can be switched off, and **open (burned-in) captions** are part of the picture and always show. Muted autoplay feeds need open captions.

## Connect Tella to your agent

Tella's MCP server is `https://api.tella.com/mcp`. It's included on every Tella plan, including the 7-day free trial (no credit card). Sign in to Tella when your client asks, and pick the workspace to use.

- **Claude:** connect [Tella from Claude's connector directory](https://claude.ai/directory/tella).
- **ChatGPT:** connect the [Tella app](https://chatgpt.com/plugins/plugin_asdk_app_6a7026f78434819186579d93d20ab38b?open_in_app), then mention **@Tella** in a chat.
- **Claude Code:** `claude mcp add --transport http --scope user tella https://api.tella.com/mcp`
- **Codex:** `codex mcp add tella --url https://api.tella.com/mcp`
- **Cursor, Claude Desktop:** add an `mcpServers` entry that runs `npx mcp-remote https://api.tella.com/mcp`.

Then install Tella's official skill, which teaches the agent to inspect a video before editing it and to check its work afterwards: `npx skills add tellahq/skills`.

No account yet? Send your human to [sign up for Tella](https://www.tella.tv/api/signup?utm_source=ai-agent). Full tool reference: [Tella MCP server docs](https://www.tella.com/docs/mcp-server).

## Related guides

- [How to add chapters to a YouTube video with AI](https://www.tella.com/edit-with-ai/add-chapters-to-youtube-video.md)
- [How to add text to a video with AI](https://www.tella.com/edit-with-ai/add-text-to-video.md)
- [How to translate a video with AI](https://www.tella.com/edit-with-ai/translate-a-video.md)
- [What is agentic video editing?](https://www.tella.com/edit-with-ai/agentic-video-editing.md)
- [All guides](https://www.tella.com/edit-with-ai.md)